Giants May Adjust Offense To Suit Hostetler's Talents

By GERALD ESKENAZI

Published: December 26, 1990

At a time of year when the Giants' starting quarterback is usually refining what he does for the playoffs, Jeff Hostetler will be plunging through another week of basic training.

"We're not going to change our offense for Jeff Hostetler," Coach Bill Parcells said earlier this week. "But we're going to change some things in it."

For the first time in his career, Hostetler has a significant amount of time to be ready as the Giants' starter. By the time he takes the first snap against the Patriots next Sunday at Foxboro, Mass., he will have run 11 practices.

Parcells concedes that Hostetler, his starter for the injured Phil Simms, has not employed, nor is comfortable with, all the devices in the Giants' offensive arsenal. Hostetler is a mobile quarterback while Simms is the traditional drop-back kind. Hostetler, for example, rushed nine times (to only four for Ottis Anderson) in last Sunday's victory at Phoenix.

"We had only two called runs for him against the Cardinals," Parcells noted. "I want to give people some different things to do in this game."

Thus, it is likely there will be broader powers for Hostetler, including more designed runs.

In only one start and as a fill-in for Simms, Hostetler has already run 29 times (for 108 yards); Simms ran only 21 times, gaining merely 61 yards. A Look to Passing Game

Hostetler's running was one interesting aspect of the Giants' new offense, which included eight passes on first down (five complete). Another was Maurice Carthon's 12 carries (and 5.6 average). But that doesn't herald a new running style -- not necessarily.

Carthon was utilized because the Giants saw, in previous game-films, that other fullbacks had success running up the Cardinals' gut. That will not necessarily work against the Bears or the Eagles or Redskins.

One of those three will be the Giants' first playoff opponent either Jan. 12 or 13.

But what about next Sunday and the Patriots? Does anyone on the Giants care? There is no advantage to be gained by winning -- other than tucking away a victory, which would be the 13th of the season.

What Parcells does is coach, he explains. As simple as that.

"And what players do is play," he adds for emphasis.

So the coach of a Giants team that already has clinched a first-round playoff bye, and that doesn't have a meaningful event until either Jan. 12 or 13, insists his club will do more than show up for the regular-season finale.

Parcells said this was not a time of experimentation for the playoffs, and he would not protect his key regulars by keeping them home.

Still, it is hard to imagine that Parcells will approach the disheveled 1-14 Patriots -- losers of 13 straight -- as he might many another team.

After Sunday, the Giants are off until the second playoff round. In that game, they will be host to the Bears, if they win their opening-round game against either the Cowboys or Saints. If the Bears lose, then the Giants will play at home against the winner of the Eagles-Redskins playoff.

"I'm not saying I'm not going to use some other guys against New England," Parcells explained. "But if you're asking me am I not using Banks or Taylor -- the players would say, 'Hey, coach, don't we want to win?' "

Matt Cavanaugh, the third-string quarterback, who has not seen action all season, is now the club's No. 2 passer. He will get playing time against New England. Parcells likes the 34-year-old Cavanaugh's attitude, his aggressive stance, his knowledge of offense and defense.

Is there a third-string quarterback out there the Giants might sign?

"I have someone in mind," said Parcells. "I haven't spoken to him and I don't think I'm going to do anything now. I don't want to change things." More Parcells Rumors

Another playoff tradition has begun -- reports on radio and television that Parcells, whose contract runs through 1991, is contemplating stepping down, perhaps even after this season. One scenario has him sitting out the final year of his contract and then going to another team -- New England, for example. He was the linebackers' coach there in 1980. After the Giants won the Super Bowl following the 1986 campaign, Parcells reportedly had agreed to leave to take over the Falcons. He decided to remain with the Giants. Asked about these latest reports, Parcells said, "Whatever these guys are saying, they're making it up." . . . Tim Rooney, the Giants' pro personnel director, has scouted the Bears' last three games, and also will be on hand to see them Saturday in Chicago, where they end their regular season against Kansas City. Then he will scout the Redskins in their Sunday game against the Bills.